Container



Nov; 4, 1941. v D. R. LIVENGOOD CONTAINER Filed Jan. 20, 1940,

Dona/d R Liven 000d Patented Nov. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES P TET OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in containers for dispensable articles and more particularly to the provision of means for dispensing one article at a time from the container.

In the use of prior devices of this general character and particularly those adapted to dispense cigarettes, there is a tendency for the dis pensing element to occasionally jam and fail to release a cigarette with each dispensing operation. At best it is difficult to feed through a dispensing mechanism an article that crushes readily and may become jammed in the working parts of the dispenser. Many devices have employed means for agitating cigarettes within a container with each dispensing operation toprevent jamming and to properly arrange the cigarettes adjacent the dispensing mechanism. Frequently the agitator is of a complicated nature or agitates the cigarettes insuiliciently for the purpose intended.

It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a container and dispensing mechanism for articles, such as cigarettes, that will prevent packing or jamming and facilitate repeated dispensing without failure so long as there are cigarettes in the container and this, therefore, constitutes one of the objects of the invention.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a structure of this character having cigarette agitator means operable with each dispensing operation.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of means in the container for preventing jamming of cigarettes adjacent the dispensing mechanism.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of means, which functions during the operation of dispensing a cigarette, to positively position the next cigarette to be dispensed.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a structure of this character that is easily mnaufactured and assembled and comprises relatively few moving parts.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing; and in which 2 Figure 1 is a front elevation of a container embodying one form .of the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the container, part of which being cut away to disclose certain interior details;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary end view ,a top N5.

of the container showing the dispensing mechanism;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 and shows one form of pivotal means for the dispensing mechanism;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the dispensing and agitating mechanism removed from the container;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view showing the container with articles about to be dispensed; and.

Figure 7 is a further vertical sectional view of the container showin one article in the process of being dispensed.

Reference is now had to the drawing wherein is shown a container embodying one modification of the invention being generally indicated by the reference numeral H). The container is comprised of front and rear walls H and .12 and end ,walls l3. In addition, to the walls set forth the container includes an inclined base wall l4 and In one form the top may be curved substantially as shown in the drawing. I The rear edge of the top may be provided with a hinge element ll that is connected with the upper edge of the rear wall I 2. Any suitable snap or fastening element I8 releasably secures the free edge of the cover It to the upper edge of the front wall, ll; Attached to one of the walls of the container, such as the back wall l2, and in any suitable manner, is a plate l9 that may include .a clamping member 2|. The member 2!, or its equivalent, serves to mount the container on the column of an automobile steering wheel or in any other suitable place. It is apparent that other mounting means for the container may be employed, depending on the place of use of the invention.

The base-wall Id of the container does not meet the front wall ll but terminates in a flange or ledge .22. The front wallll terminates at its lower end in an outwardly offset portion 23 that has an inturned rounded .fiange 24. The side walls [3 may terminate at their lower ends substantially as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3. It will be noted that the walls ll, l3 and [4 deline a rectangular opening 26. In this opening is mounted a dispensing mechanism generally indicated by the numeral 21. The dispensing mechanism comprises a member 28 having end walls 29 that, in the present disclosure, are integral with a front wall 3|. in the drawing, is continued rearwardly between the end walls 29 and forms a curved Seat 32 The wall 3|, s shown tion 33 terminates directly beneath the front wall 5 3| and is provided with a centrally disposed tab or flange 34. The end walls 29 overlie the lower extremities of side walls I3 and are pivotally joined thereto by pins 36. It will be observed that the pins 36 are located forwardly of the dis- 1o pensing mechanism and, therefore, such mechanism is pivotally unbalanced and is at rest in the position shown in Figures 2, 3 and 6 of the draw-l,

ing. Depressing the flange 34 rotates the dispense ing mechanism to substantially the position shown in Figure '7.

In the present disclosure the seat 3 2 and portion 33 are integrally joined alonga rolled or bead-like portion 31. Adjacent this portion pairs of openings are made to provide pivotal con- 'nection for the ends of arms 38 of an agitator 39. These ends are looped, as at 4|, to permanently pivotally join the agitator to the dispenser. Immediately adjacent the looped ends each arm 38 is formed with a curved offset 42.

These offsets are of a contour to fit and are adapted to receive an article which will cooperate in the dispensing of substantially all the articles from the container. As may be seen in the drawing, the arms 38 are connected by a portion 43 that, when the agitator is in place within the container, lies adjacent the jointure of base wall I4 with rear wall 12.

The portion 43 of the' agitator must be out of contact with articles to be dispensed for the reason'that during the dispensing operation the agitator is moved and this portion would tend to jam or damage articles within the container. To prevent contact of this portion of the agitator with articles within the container, a shelf 4 44 is provided. This shelf comprises flanges 46 and 41 connected by a generally curved portion 48. The edge of flange 46 abuts and may be permanently joined to the rear wall l2. The lower edge of flange 41 is cut away centrally at 49 "for the purpose of permitting the portion 43 of the agitator to lie within the space inclosed by the shelf 44. The ends adjacent the cut-out rest upon the inclined base wall l4 and may be secured thereto in any suitable manner. It will 50 be understood that the shelf 44, although shown as aseparate element from the container, may be made integral therewith and, under such circumstances, the portion 43 of the agitator would project through the base wall l4.

The device is conveniently mounted by means of the member 2|. Cigarettes or other articles to be dispensed are placed in the container, access being had by raising the cover IS. The

cigarettes lie parallel, being in the position shown 'in'Figure 6 of the drawing. When it is desired to remove a cigarette from the container the operator presses his finger against the flange 34,

moving said flange downwardly and rearwardly about the pivot pins 36. cated on the seat 32 of the dispenser, will drop off the flange 3| when said flange has been rotated to substantially the position shown in Fig- Inasmuch as the operator of the depensing mechanism to operate it, cigarette A will drop into hishand. Prior to the dispensing operation, it will be noted that cigarette X rests in the offsets 42 in the agitator and that cigarette B is supported by cigarettes A and X. When the 5 The cigarette A, 10-

dispenser is rotated the agitator is moved upwardly and this action tends to lift and slightly roll all of the cigarettes in the container, at the same time cigarette X moves slightly out of the seat formed by the offsets 42 and forces cigarette B toward the front wall II where it rests temporarily upon the ledge formed by the curved portion 24. The purpose of this movement is to withhold cigarette B, or any other cigarette, from contacting the operator and preventing free rotation thereof during the dispensing of cigarette A. Due to the fact the agitator is pivotally off balance, the dispenser, when released by the operator, will return to closed position.

'As this movement takes place cigarette X returns to the seat formed by the offsets 42 and in so doing releases cigarette B so that it may drop onto the seat 32. Upon the next rotation of the dispenser, cigarette B will be removed from the container. A further cigarette C is shown above cigarette B and will come into place to be dispensed duringthe dispensing of cigarette B.

It may not be that the cigarettes 'will be dispensed actually in the order named, but it will be understood, however, that the cigarette designated X serves somewhat in the nature of a roller over which substantially all the cigarettes in the container move toward and into the dispensing mechanism. Furthermore, cigarette X is generally the last cigarette to be dispensed from the container. The cigarettes located to the rear of cigarette X do not necessarily remain in this position, since the flipping motion of the agitator during the dispensing operation tends to move them downwardly of the container. In general the cigarettes are moved only sufficiently to prevent their becoming packed or jammed. The curved portion 5| in the front wall, when the container isfilled with cigarettes, serves to prevent a tendency to pack adjacent the dispensing mechanism.

Although applicant has shown and described only one modification of the dispensing mechanism for an article container, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations of this structure may be made and are contemplated insofar as they are within the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the here'- unto annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention what I claim as new and for which I desire'protection by Letters Patent is:

1. In a dispensing container having a'gen- 5 erally .rectangular body formed to provide/a.

delivery opening, a mechanism for dispensing articles from said container, said mechanism being located in said opening and comprising an article receiver, off center pivotal means mounting said receiver, said receiver being rotatable to convey an article from the interior to the exterior of said container, an agitator joined to said receiver, and means partially enclosing said agitator whereby to prevent contact of a part thereof with any articles in said container.

2. In a dispensing container having a generally rectangular body formed to provide a delivery opening for articles therein, a mechanism for dispensing articles through said opening comprising an article receiver, said receiver having end walls pivotally joined to certain walls of the container, an agitator pivotally joined to said receiver, and means on said agitator adjacent said receiver for receiving-and positioning an article and causing said article to cooperate in the dispensing one by one of other articles from said container.

3. In a dispensing container having a body formed to provide a delivery opening for articles contained therein, a mechanism for dispensing articles through said opening comprising an article receiver having a seat portion, means pivotally mounting said receiver in said opening, said means being ofi center with respect to said receiver and causing the receiver to normally assume a position to close said opening and direct said seat portion toward the interior of said container, and means adjacent said receiver for supporting an article in a position to cooperate in the dispensing of other articles from said container.

4. In a dispensing container having a body formed to provide a delivery opening for articles contained therein, a mechanism for dispensing articles through said opening comprising an article receiver having a seat portion, means pivotally mounting said receiver in said opening. means adjacent to and connected with said receiver for positioning an article, said article positioning means being movable with said receiver during the dispensing operation to cause the article thereon to assist one by one dispensing of the other articles from said container.

5. In a dispensing container having a body formed to provide a delivery opening for articles contained therein, a mechanism for dispensing articles through said opening comprising an article receiver, means pivotally mounting said receiver in said opening, a seat portion formed in said receiver for receiving and conveying an article from the interior to the exterior of said container, an agitator pivotally joined to said receiver and resting at least in part on the base wall of said container, and means on said agitator immediately adjacent said receiver for positioning an article, said means being operable by rotation of said receiver to reciprocate an article thereon during the operation of dispensing other articles from said container.

6. In a dispensing container having a body formed to provide a delivery opening for articlesv contained therein and having a downwardly inclined base wall, a mechanism for dispensing articles through said opening comprising an article receiver, an agitator in the form of a generally U-shaped member, the free ends of said member being pivotally joined to said receiver, and means in said container enclosing the rear portion of said agitator whereby to prevent contact thereof with the contents of said container.

7. In a dispensing container having a delivery opening formed in part by a downwardly inclined base wall, a mechanism for dispensing articles through said opening comprising an article receiver, means pivotally mounting said receiver in said opening, an agitator, said agitator being in the form of a U'-shaped rod, the closed portion of which rests upon said base wall, the ends of said agitator being pivotally joined to said receiver, curved portions adjacent the ends of said agitator, said curved portions cooperating to seat an article, said article, during one complete oscillation of said receiver, being reciprocated and serving to assist in the one by one dispensing of other articles from said con- I tainer, and means enclosing the rear portion of said agitator for preventing articles in said container from contact therewith.

DONALD R. LIVENGOOD. 

